Foreign

Court Jails Tunisia Opposition Leader

By Web News 576

A Tunisian court has sentenced opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to a year in prison.

The Ennahda party leader, who is a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, has been detained since last month after being arrested for allegedly plotting against state security and incitement.

Mr. Ghannouchi rejected the allegations as politically motivated, refusing to appear before the judges. On Monday, he was sentenced in absentia.

There has been a wave of arrests this year of leading figures opposed to Mr. Saied, who assumed full executive powers almost two years ago.

Since February, 20 of Mr Saied’s political opponents and personalities have been arrested, including former ministers and business figures.

Mr. Ghannouchi’s detention last month alongside others sparked international condemnation, including by the US, the European Union, and rights groups.

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

Sport

African U-20: Flying Eagles, Tunisia, Battle for Third Place

By Web News 1144

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Flying Eagles of Nigeria will look to secure third position when they take on Tunisia on Friday in their third-place encounter at the ongoing Under-20 African Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.

The encounter will be played at the Cairo International Stadium at three o’clock in the afternoon.

The final between Senegal and Gambia will take place tomorrow at six o’clock in the evening.

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Foreign

Strike Hits Public Transport in Tunisia

By Web News 611

Public transport in the Tunisian capital ground to a halt after employees of the state transport company went on strike on Monday over delays to salary payments.

Hundreds of workers staged a protest outside the prime minister’s office.

The industrial action highlights problems facing public companies as the government of President Kais Saied grapples with its worst financial crisis.

The powerful UGTT union is to hold another two-day strike involving transport workers in late January.

It says the action will be in protest against what it calls “the government’s marginalisation of public companies.”

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Sport

Handball Championship: Golden Arrows Set To Face Tunisia

By Web News 569

The National Senior Men’s Handball Team otherwise known as the ‘Golden Arrows’ will today begin their 25th Africa Men Senior Handball Championship against the top-rated side and 10 times winner, Tunisia.

It is a tough match as Tunisia has always got to the final of the championship since the 1992 edition in Cote d’Ivoire; winning 10 titles but the Nigerian Coach, Rafiu Dakami believes that the Golden Arrows, can play to their strength and hold their own against the highly-rated North Africans.

“…and with the support of Nigerians, we will overcome. The goal is to get the ticket for the World Championship and that begins today in Cairo, at 12:30 pm”, Dakimi said in high spirits.

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule

Sport

Nigeria, Tunisia set for round of 16 clash

By Web News 530

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia will clash Sunday night in the round of 16 of the ongoing 33rd  Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria and Tunisia are meeting for the sixth time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with four of the previous five matches being played in knock-out rounds.

Nigeria were unbeaten in all five, Winning 3 and Drawing 2, excluding penalty shoot-outs.

Nigeria have won 12 of their last 14 Africa Cup of Nations games Losing 2, winning each of their last four in a row.

Tunisia’s only successful Africa Cup of Nations meeting with Nigeria came in 2004, when, as hosts, they progressed via penalties in the semi-finals after the match finished 1-all.

The Carthage Eagles went on to win the competition that year.

Also, Nigeria have had more different goal scorers (six) than any other team so far at AFCON 2021, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Simon Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi, William Troost-Ekong and Umar Sadiq each scoring once.

The Nigeria Tunisia match comes at 8pm at the Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua.

FRCN, Abuja

Foreign News

More African States Impose Travel Restrictions

By Web News 795

Increasing numbers of African countries are confirming Coronavirus cases, prompting many to announce measures to control the spread of the virus.

Ghana is the latest nation to ban entry to foreign visitors from countries badly impacted by the disease.

Earlier, South Africa declared a state of disaster, closing its borders to foreign nationals from countries badly impacted by the disease. The ban includes China, Iran, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US.

Kenya has also imposed sweeping travel restrictions, blocking entry to all travelers coming from countries with reported cases. On Sunday, the government confirmed two more cases of Coronavirus, taking the total number to three.

Djibouti, which has no confirmed case, has suspended all international flights. Tanzania, which also has no confirmed case, has cancelled flights to India.

Morocco has also suspended all international flights from its airports. The North African state has 28 confirmed cases, including one death.

The prime minister of Libya’s internationally recognized government, Fayez Sarraj, also announced the closure of Libya’s airspace and land borders as a preventative measure starting from Monday.

In neighbouring Algeria, which has 48 Coronavirus cases, officials announced they would be suspending all flights to France as of Tuesday.

In Tunisia, Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh has ordered the closure of all borders and a ban on large gatherings, including congregation prayers in mosques. The country has confirmed 20 cases of the virus.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi has suspended all gatherings of 300 people or more. He has also suspended all foreign travel by state officials – including his own visits to Equatorial Guinea and Palestinian territories that were scheduled for later this month.

The virus is now confirmed to be present in at least 26 nations across the continent.

BBC NEWS